Page 77 of Colorado Bride

His grin faded, his grip on her relaxed and he lowered his arms.

“That’s right.Back to our problem.Melissa.”

“We don’t have a choice,” said Emily.“She’ll get in touch with Rory and then we’ll know what her plans will be.No one else can get close now that the first plot was foiled, she’ll have to contact Rory.”

“All right.Now we wait.”

Sunday, November 28, 1875

Emily stood in front of the full-length mirror she’d asked Ben to buy for her from the mercantile.She buttoned her dress down to her waist but couldn’t get the last two buttons closed.

“Damn,” she said under her breath.

Ben came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

“What’s the matter?”

“I’m fat.I can’t button my dress and I’ve let the seams out as far as possible.”

“We’ll have to take you to the dress maker or see if there are some at the mercantile.”

“I can’t even wear my corsets anymore.”

His hands covered her breasts and he grinned.

“I know.”

Irritated, she slapped at his hands and pulled away.

“Quit that, my breasts are tender and I need to get dressed so I can meet your sister.”

“I’m sorry.I don’t mean to hurt you, I just like touching you.As to your dress, Jane doesn’t care what you wear.”

She shot him a frown.

“Ha.That’s how much you know about women.”

He held his hands out from his sides, palms up.“What?She doesn’t.I think I know my sister.”

She shook her head.

“I’m sure youthinkyou do, but you don’t, trust me.”

“Fine.Try another dress.”

“I have one last garment to try.One of my ugly gray governess dresses.I kept one, because they are wool and I thought would be useful here.”

“Well it’s cold out today, so a wool dress is a good idea.”

She stepped into the dress, pulled it up and put her arms into the sleeves.She was able to close all the buttons but the time wasn’t far off that she wouldn’t be able to.

“There.How do I look?”

“You look beautiful, as always but you’re right about the dress.”He frowned.“It is ugly.Why would you wear such a thing?”

“To make myself as unattractive as possible to discourage flirtations by the master of the house.Except for the last house I was at, it worked quite well.Thank goodness his wife came along when she did.”

Ben’s hands balled into fists.